Speaker: Deneine Christa Powell, CEO, Urban Sustainability Directors Network
Deneine Christa Powell: in philanthropic dollars. This work is not glamorous, but it is sacred. We are stewards, and we are here for so much more than ourselves.
How (and why) are you taking action on climate change solutions in, for, and with your community?
Deneine Christa Powell: At USDN we take action on climate because our members, which consists of over 3700 local government sustainability practitioners across 330+ cities and counties, are truly the first line of defense for our communities. They are on the ground every day working to protect people from flooding, um, extreme heat, wildfires. And other climate threats. So our role is to equip them with the resources, the tools, the connections they need to be successful in their work. And we don't do this work for communities. We do it with them. Our programs are designed around partnerships, local governments working side by side with residents, community-based organizations, and frontline voices. So, whether it's developing an equitable climate action plan or piloting new finance tools or sharing models for resilience hubs, our goal is to ensure that climate solutions aren't just technical, they're people-centered, equitable, and sustainable for the long term.
Describe a moment when you felt the real-world impact of your work in climate solutions.
Deneine Christa Powell: One moment that stays with me is tied to our community forestry work. In partnership with the US Forest Service, USDN re-granted over 22 million to cities and community organizations to expand tree canopy in neighborhoods most vulnerable to extreme heat. I had an opportunity to visit a city where young people were leading tree plantings in their own communities, and you could really see the pride on their faces, not just in planting trees, but the understanding they're creating shade and lowering future heat risk, and reclaiming a sense of power over their environment. And that moment really reminds me that climate solutions are not. They're more than just a metrics or policies about people feeling safer, healthier, and more connected to one another, and about communities most impacted by climate change becoming leaders and shaping their own solutions.
Who or what inspires/inspired you to care about climate change and climate solutions?
Deneine Christa Powell: Well, my inspiration comes from two places. Personally, it began with my mother, who instilled in me a deep love for the natural world and with my family, who remind me daily what's at stake for future generations. Professionally, I am continually inspired by our members, the sustainability directors, staff, and community partners who carry out this work in city halls and in neighborhoods across North America. They're truly the unsung heroes. Their work isn't sexy or flashy. It's working on policy. It's, it's bio swells, composting. Uh, adjusting zoning codes, planting trees, or writing that one grand application that will unlock millions in philanthropic dollars. This work is not glamorous, but it is sacred. We are stewards, and we are here for so much more than ourselves. And what inspires me most is knowing that these everyday acts of stewardship are building the healthier, safer, more dare I say it, equitable communities that our children deserve.
